The MMA Top 10 02.05.10: Week 7 - The Top 10 Fighters Needed In EA Sports MMA

Posted by Dustin James on 02.05.2010

From Dan Henderson and Mamed Khalidov to Bob Sapp and Alistair Overeem, 411's Dustin James says that these are some of the fighters that EA Sports MUST put in their MMA game! Check out the full article to see who made the list and why!

Welcome back to the MMA Top 10. As you should be accustomed to by now, I'm your host Dustin James and my mind is completely fried thanks to that wonderful ABC drama on Tuesday nights called "LOST." Man, what the hell is going on? While I would love to sit here and discuss it with you all, I promised myself I would keep quiet until this week's Get Lost w/ Ben Piper. As you can tell if you click that link, I'll be recapping and analyzing LOST each week alongside 411's Rick Tym and Mr. Piper himself. Judging from the first episode, it's going to be a wild ride so make sure you check us out every week.

Now, moving on to MMA. UFC 109 is this weekend, and I'm totally excited for it! It's been far too long since the UFC has blessed my screen with a PPV and anytime you have Randy Couture fighting......COUNT ME IN! While the card doesn't exactly have any fights that explode on paper, it's usually these types of shows that wind up having the most action-packed fights (see: UFC 108). Either way, it's going to be a long weekend full of booze, fattening foods, and sports!

Superbowl weekend + UFC 109 = head hurting on Monday.

Now, I have a little bit of an announcement to make. 411's Todd Bergman and myself will be co-writing a special "Top 25 Fights of All-Time" in a few weeks for this column. Now, this is YOUR time to speak up in the comments section! We will actually be basing our list a lot on what YOU have to say as well as our own opinion of course. All you need to do is list a fight you love (or hell, twenty-five fights you love) in the comment section below and BADA BING....it's that easy. I'll be running this for a few weeks, so try and pick some great fights and help represent the 411 readers well. If anyone lists "James McSweeney vs. Wes Shivers," I will personally drive to your house and toilet paper it. Trust me, nothing sends a message like throwing ass napkins all over someone's yard.

So please, give us a hand and let us know what your favorite fight of all-time is......

Anyway, this week I decided to rank a topic a little close to my heart. Last year when UFC Undisputed was released, a part of me died. That part just so happened to be the "social life" part of me. What little spare time I had was consumed by the awesomeness of this game. When I found out that EA Sports (who I love by the way...) was making an MMA game, I was overjoyed! If they could even touch the greatness that was Undisputed, then I have high hopes for this game.

The most important thing going into this game is easily the gameplay and the roster. While I personally don't know how the game will play because it's not released yet, I can discuss the roster! If you go to the main page for EA Sports MMA (currently sporting a picture of Bobby Lashley battling Jeff Monson) and go to the roster section, you can already see a list of guys who are the "who's who" of MMA fighters not currently fighting for the UFC. You got Fedor Emelianenko, Nick Diaz, Lashley, Shinya Aoki, Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields, Gegard Mousasi, etc. Basically, it's a pretty damn impressive roster. However, in my opinion.....these are the top 10 guys that EA Sports needs to add to this game in order for me to get officially in "REALLY EXCITED!!!" mode.



Make it happen EA...............




LET'S GET IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................

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HONORABLE MENTIONS!!!!!



Hong Man Choi
Currently Fighting For: DREAM


MMA Record: 2-3

Notable Wins:

- defeated Jose Canseco via submission due to punches at DREAM 9 on May 26, 2009

- defeated Bobby Ologun via TKO at the 2006 Dynamite!! card on December 31, 2006


Notable Losses:

- lost to Ikuhisa Minowa via heel hook submission at DREAM.11 on October 6, 2009

- lost to Mirko Cro Cop via TKO at the 2008 Dynamite!! card on December 31, 2008

- lost to Fedor Emelianenko via armbar submission at the 2007 Dynamite!! card on December 31, 2007


Let's not beat around the bush here. Hong Man Choi is a freak. His head alone is bigger than most automobiles. However, that's the exact reason I want the man to be in the "EA Sports MMA" game! I have been dreaming of a video game that would allow me to take the physical stature of a man like Choi and turn him into one of the greatest MMA champions ever! Please EA....track him down (it really shouldn't be hard since he's ginormous) and put this man in the game and preferably on the cover! VIVA LA CHOI~!!!!

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Jorge Santiago
Currently Fighting For: Sengoku


MMA Record: 21-8


Notable Wins:


- defeated Kazuo Misaki via rear-naked choke submission at Sengoku: No Ran 2009 on January 4, 2009

- defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura via TKO at Sengoku 6 on November 1, 2008

- defeated Trevor Prangley via KO at Strikeforce: 4 Men Enter, 1 Survives on November 16, 2007

- defeated Jeremy Horn via triangle choke submission at Art of War 3 on September 1, 2007


Notable Losses:

- lost to Mamed Khalidov via TKO at Sengoku 11 on November 7, 2009

- lost to Alan Belcher via KO at UFC Fight Night 7 on December 13, 2006

- lost to Chris Leben via KO at UFC Fight Night 6 on August 17, 2006

- lost to Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision at King of the Cage 36 on June 12, 2004


UFC and Strikeforce veteran Jorge Santiago is one of the most underrated fighters in the middleweight division. How EA Sports has not seeked this man out and added him to the game yet is mind boggling. Since leaving the UFC in 2006, Santiago ran off a nine-fight win streak before getting beat by top ranked Mamed Khalidov last year. However, Santiago is still one of the top middleweight fighters in the world and if EA wants their game to be represented by the best non-UFC fighters....then they need to sign this man ASAP! It's only fair.....

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AND NOW.......THE TOP 10!!!!!!!!



10) Aleksander Emelianenko
Currently Fighting For: M-1 Global



MMA Record: 15-3



Notable Wins:


- defeated Sergei Kharitonov via TKO at PRIDE: Final Conflict Absolute on September 10, 2006

- defeated James Thompson via KO at PRIDE 28 on October 31, 2004

- defeated Assuerio Silva via split decision at PRIDE: Bushido 1 on October 5, 2003



Notable Losses:


- lost to Fabricio Werdum via arm-triangle submission at 2H2H: Pride & Honor on November 12, 2006

- lost to Josh Barnett via keylock submission at PRIDE: Total Elimination Absolute on May 5, 2006

- lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via KO at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2004 on August 15, 2004




There's one reason and one HUGE reason only as to why EA Sports needs to add Aleks Emelianenko to the game. It's so I can finally hold my DREAM fight of Fedor vs. Aleks! It would be a regular CIVIL FREAKING WAR in my own house! While I have always viewed Aleks Emelianenko as an overrated fighter (really....who has the man beat outside of Sergei that is considered top competition?), I would love to be able to make him tap out with a crazy armbar from his own brother. That's just one way that EA Sports can make their game better than the UFC's. By allowing you to fight outside of your respective weight divisions and allowing you to have bloody BROTHER vs. BROTHER battles....I would already start to favor EA Sports MMA over UFC Undisputed. But hey, that's just me.



For those of you unfamiliar with Aleks work....here ya go.....

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9) Mamed Khalidov
Currently Fighting For: Sengoku



MMA Record: 20-3-1



Notable Wins:


- defeated Jorge Santiago via TKO at Sengoku 11 on November 7, 2009

- defeated Jason Guida via TKO at ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on October 10, 2008

- defeated Dave Dalgliesh via armbar submission at KSW 8 on November 10, 2007



Notable Losses:


- lost to Valdas Pocevicius via rear-naked choke submission at Shooto Lithuania: Gladiators 2 on September 22, 2005

- lost to Grazhuydas Smailis via rear-naked choke submission at Shooto Lithuania: Gladiators on September 29, 2004

- lost to Nerijus Valiukevicius via TKO at Shooto Lithuania: Bushido King on May 18, 2004



As I have already mentioned, if EA Sports want to get their game to be respectable as possible....then they need to sign the best non-UFC fighters out there. Mamed Khalidov is currently one of the best non-UFC middleweight fighters in the world. He's currently on a seventeen-fight win streak with his last win a HUGE win over Jorge Santiago for the Sengoku middleweight title. In my eyes, Khalidov should already be signed, sealed, and delivered for the EA Sports game. The fact that he isn't has me a little worried, but there is still plenty of time and I have nothing but faith that this thing will get done. Right EA?



And here are some Mamed Khalidov highlights because I know you are dying to see them.....

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8) Paulo Filho
Currently Fighting For: DREAM & Bitetti Combat



MMA Record: 19-1



Notable Wins:


- defeated Melvin Manhoef via armbar submission at DREAM.10 on July 20, 2009

- defeated Chael Sonnen via armbar submission at WEC 31 on December 12, 2007

- defeated Kazuo Misaki via armbar submission at PRIDE: Bushido 13 on November 5, 2006

- defeated Murilo Rua via unanimous decision at PRIDE: Bushido 10 on April 2, 2006



Notable Losses:


- lost to Chael Sonnen via unanimous decision at WEC 36 on November 5, 2008



Just a few years ago, Paulo Filho was widely regarded as the #2 middleweight fighter in MMA. He sat right behind one of his best friends in the rankings (Anderson Silva) and he seemed comfortable with where he was at. That was until he fought Chael Sonnen at WEC 36 and everyone's opinion of Filho changed in the blink of an eye. He went from #2 in the rankings to unranked all with one loss.....that's how embarrassing of a fight it was for Paulo. However, he seems to have gotten his act together and he's once again on a roll in MMA. He's riding a three-fight win streak right now with DREAM and Bitetti Combat promotion and it may be only a matter of time before we see Filho at the top of the rankings again. That could all start with the addition of Filho to the EA Sports video game. Maybe it's just me, but I have personally been waiting to armbar the crap out of someone with Filho in video game form for years, so the fact that Filho has yet to be announced for the game has me a little worried that he will be left off. C'mon EA....don't make me beg!




And here's Paulo Filho destroying Melvin Manhoef.......

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7) Antonio Silva
Currently Fighting For: Strikeforce



MMA Record: 13-2



Notable Wins:


- defeated Justin Eilers via TKO at EliteXC: Unfinished Business on July 26, 2008

- defeated Ricco Rodriguez via split decision at EliteXC: Street Certified on February 16, 2008



Notable Losses:


- lost to Fabricio Werdum via unanimous decision at Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rogers on November 7, 2009

- lost to Eric Pele via TKO at BodogFight: USA vs. Russia on December 2, 2006



When I look at the roster that's currently announced for EA Sports MMA, I can't help but notice the lack of heavyweights. Outside of Fedor, Couture, Brett Rogers and Bobby Lashley....the game would be rather lackluster if that was all we got in the heavyweight division. Since you can't have the UFC's heavyweights, you must look elsewhere and who better than Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva? While Silva has remained mainly untested throughout his MMA career, it would be fun to see how a video game version of "Bigfoot" would fare against Fedor or even Couture. Like I said, the game desperately needs to spice up its heavyweight division and it's not like there is a great number to choose from or anything.



And here's Antonio Silva's MMA debut for your viewing pleasure........

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6) Bob Sapp
Currently Fighting For: DREAM



MMA Record: 10-6-1



Notable Wins:


- defeated Kiyoshi Tamura via TKO at PRIDE 21 on June 23, 2002



Notable Losses:


- lost to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO at DREAM.11 on October 6, 2009

- lost to Bobby Lashley via submission due to punches at FFI: Ultimate Chaos on June 27, 2009

- lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via armbar submission at PRIDE: Shockwave on August 28, 2002



Listen, I'm the first guy who's going to scoff at anyone who considers Bob Sapp a good MMA fighter. However, I can't help but think of how awesome it would be if they included Sapp in this game. While the guy can't fight worth a lick, he's one of the biggest names in Japan so that would only help sell the game. And as I mentioned previously, the heavyweight division on this game is looking thin and they desperately need some names....so why not Sapp? Plus, I know a ton of people would be tempted to go online and try their luck with some Fedor vs. Sapp action. Imagine the shitstorm that would rain down if you took Sapp online and were able to KO Fedor! That would give you bragging rights for years......



This poor guy never had a chance........

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5) Kazushi Sakuraba
Currently Fighting For: DREAM



MMA Record: 26-12-1



Notable Wins:


- defeated Quinton Jackson via rear-naked choke submission at PRIDE 15 on July 29, 2001

- defeated Royce Gracie via TKO at PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals May 1, 2000

- defeated Vitor Belfort via unanimous decision at PRIDE 5 on April 29, 1999

- defeated Carlos Newton via kneebar submission at PRIDE 3 on June 24, 1998



Notable Losses:


- lost to Melvin Manhoef via TKO at DREAM.4 on June 15, 2008

- lost to Ricardo Arona via TKO at PRIDE: Critical Countdown 2005 on June 26, 2005

- lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via unanimous decision at PRIDE: Shockwave 2003 on December 31, 2003

- lost to Wanderlei Silva via KO at PRIDE: Total Elimination 2003 on August 10, 2003

- lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via TKO at PRIDE: Shockwave on August 28, 2002

- lost to Wanderlei Silva via TKO at PRIDE 17 on November 3, 2001

- lost to Wanderlei Silva via TKO at PRIDE 13 on March 25, 2001


Much like a lot of you, I was shocked when I saw the roster for EA Sports MMA had been released and PRIDE legend Kazushi Sakuraba was nowhere to be found! What the hell is up with that? If I were EA, I would be trying to capitalize anyway I could off the PRIDE name (without actually using it....of course) and what better way than to have SAKU on the game? Saku is one of the biggest MMA legends ever and it would be a crime if he were left off this game. Just think of all the good match-ups you could have. You could pit Saku vs. Jake Shields, vs. Jason Miller, vs. Gegard Mousasi, vs. "Jacare" Souza and many many more! Hell, I want Saku on the game just so I can see how my boy Matt "The Law" Lindland would do against him. There are some MMA match-ups we will probably never get to see in real life so it's important that we get some of these guys on this game....and Saku belongs on the damn game! There are rumors he's going to be included, it just has yet to be confirmed by EA. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!


Sit back, relax, and watch highlights from "The Gracie Hunter," Kazushi Sakuraba.......

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4) Alistair Overeem
Currently Fighting For: DREAM & Strikeforce


MMA Record: 32-11



Notable Wins:


- defeated Paul Buentello via submission due to knees to the body at Strikeforce: 4 Men Enter, 1 Man Survives on November 16, 2007

- defeated Vitor Belfort via unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Revenge on June 9, 2006

- defeated Sergei Kharitonov via TKO at PRIDE 31 on February 26, 2006

- defeated Vitor Belfort via guillotine choke submission at PRIDE: Total Elimination 2005 on April 23, 2005




Notable Losses:


- lost to Mauricio Rua via KO at PRIDE 33 on February 24, 2007

- lost to Ricardo Arona via submission due to punches at PRIDE: Final Conflict Absolute on September 10, 2006

- lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via TKO at PRIDE: Critical Countdown Absolute on July 1, 2006

- lost to Mauricio Rua via TKO at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2005 on June 26, 2005

- lost to Chuck Liddell via KO at PRIDE: Total Elimination 2003 on August 10, 2003



If you have been paying attention to the news surrounding the EA Sports MMA game, then you must know that Strikeforce is going to play a HUGE part in the game. Well, how can Strikeforce play a huge part in the game if the company's own heavyweight champion isn't even in the damn game? While I know Alistair Overeem prefers to fight in Japan rather than Strikeforce (he's even come out and admitted that he's interested in the UFC once his current contract expires), we need him in this game if the game does plan on focusing on Strikeforce as promised. This actually may be the only way we will get to have Overeem defend his title. It doesn't look like he will ever defend it in real life, so why not just hold a Fedor vs. Overeem fight on your Xbox360 and invite all your friends over? That may be the only way we will ever get to actually see that fight......




Poor Igor.....it was over before it started.......

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3) Eddie Alvarez
Currently Fighting For: DREAM & Bellator


MMA Record: 19-2


Notable Wins:


- defeated Tatsuya Kawajiri via TKO at DREAM.5 on July 21, 2008

- defeated Joachim Hansen via unanimous decision at DREAM.3 on May 11, 2008

- defeated Aaron Riley via KO at BodogFight: USA vs. Russia on December 2, 2006



Notable Losses:


- lost to Shinya Aoki via heel hook submission at the 2008 Dynamite!! card on December 31, 2008

- lost to Nick Thompson via TKO at BodogFight: Clash of the Nations on April 14, 2007


As I have mentioned before, one thing that EA Sports promised us was that they would have the best fighters that are currently not under contract with the UFC. Well, why the hell is Eddie Alvarez still not confirmed for this game? I mean, look at the current lightweight roster for the game. You only have Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, and Joachim Hansen currently confirmed. EA needs to start signing lightweights real soon and it should start with none other than Alvarez. He's the best thing going right now in the Bellator promotion and is easily the top lightweight currently missing from this game. Either way, we need to start getting some lightweight soon because the current roster is just sad......



Here's Eddie Alvarez proving why he belongs on this game.........

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2) Josh Barnett
Currently Fighting For: Free Agent



MMA Record: 24-5



Notable Wins:


- defeated Jeff Monson via unanimous decision at Sengoku 2 on May 18, 2008

- defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via split decision at PRIDE: Final Conflict Absolute on September 10, 2006

- defeated Aleksander Emelianenko via keylock submission at PRIDE: Total Elimination Absolute on May 5, 2006

- defeated Randy Couture via TKO at UFC 36 on March 22, 2002

- defeated Dan Severn via armbar submission at SuperBrawl 16 on February 8, 2000



Notable Losses:


- lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via unanimous decision at PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 on December 31, 2006

- lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via submission due to strikes at PRIDE: Final Conflict Absolute on September 10, 2006

- lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via unanimous decision at PRIDE 30 on October 23, 2005

- lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via submission due to shoulder injury at PRIDE 28 on October 31, 2004

- lost to Pedro Rizzo via KO at UFC 30 on February 23, 2001




Perhaps the best thing about the upcoming EA Sports MMA video game is that it doesn't have drug testing involved. That means guys like Nick Diaz and Josh Barnett are safe from any athletic commissions. That's great news for us MMA fans who have been dying to see bouts like Barnett vs. Fedor or Barnett vs. Couture (rematch!). While Barnett's current MMA career is in limbo due to another steroid suspension, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be included in EA's MMA game. As I have already mentioned PLENTY of times this article, the heavyweight division on the game is pretty thin and the addition of Barnett would only help spice it up. It may be awhile before we see the "Babyfaced Assassin" actually compete in an MMA ring, so we may as well do it in a fantasy world.......


Here's a classic Barnett fight for all of you hardcore Barnett fans......

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1) Dan Henderson
Currently Fighting For: Strikeforce


MMA Record: 25-7

Notable Wins:


- defeated Michael Bisping via KO at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009

- defeated Rich Franklin via split decision at UFC 93 on January 17, 2009

- defeated Wanderlei Silva via KO at PRIDE 33 on February 24, 2007

- defeated Vitor Belfort via unanimous decision at PRIDE 32 on October 21, 2006

- defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via split decision at Rings: King of Kings 1999 Final on February 26, 2000

Notable Losses:


- lost to Anderson Silva via rear-naked choke submission at UFC 82 on March 1, 2008

- lost to Quinton Jackson via unanimous decision at UFC 75 on September 8, 2007

- lost to Kazuo Misaki via unanimous decision at PRIDE: Bushido 12 on August 26, 2006

- lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via armbar submission at PRIDE: Total Elimination 2005 on April 23, 2005

- lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via armbar submission at PRIDE 24 on December 23, 2002

- lost to Ricardo Arona via split decision at PRIDE 20 on April 28, 2002

- lost to Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision at PRIDE 12 on December 9, 2000


Well, let's all let out one big collective "DUH?" Of course Henderson is #1! As I have already mentioned, this game is supposedly going to focus a lot on the Strikeforce promotion. So, what better way to do just that than put Dan "Hollywood" Henderson in the game? Henderson may have just signed with Strikeforce and has yet to even fight for the promotion, but he's still one of the company's biggest names (if not THE biggest). Thanks to his stints in PRIDE and the UFC (especially his last run with the UFC), Henderson became pretty popular for a man with the charisma of mop. That can all be credited to the fact that Hendo is one tough son of a bitch and an incredible fighter to boot. If EA really wants to focus on the Strikeforce name, then they need to do everything in their power to get Henderson in the game. In just a matter of months, Hendo may actually be holding a Strikeforce title, so it may be kind of important to get him the game ASAP......


A tribute to Dan "Hollywood" Henderson...you will watch it, and you WILL like it.......

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And that's it for me this week. Make sure you follow me on Twitter for all sorts of good MMA, NBA, NFL, and other random crap talk. Trust me, I won't let you down.

Also, make sure you list some of your favorite fights in the comments section in order to help us prepare for the upcoming Top 25 Fights Of All-Time list~!!!!!


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